CHAPTER 89: THE FIRST MOMENTS

They finally let us take Evelyn back to our private room after six hours of observation. Six hours of watching her breathe through monitors and wires, of nurses assuring us she was fine while my heart refused to believe it.

"Ready to hold her?" The NICU nurse, Patricia, smiled at William. "Dad's turn."

He'd been hovering since we got to the hospital but hadn't actually held her yet. Now he looked terrified.

"I don't know how." His voice came out rough. "What if ...